diff --git a/src/main/java/de/neemann/digital/core/element/Keys.java b/src/main/java/de/neemann/digital/core/element/Keys.java
index fd2177896..b5a71a87b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/de/neemann/digital/core/element/Keys.java
+++ b/src/main/java/de/neemann/digital/core/element/Keys.java
@@ -741,6 +741,12 @@ public final class Keys {
      */
     public static final Key.KeyInteger MIDICHANNEL =
             new Key.KeyInteger("midiChannel", 0)
-            .setMin(0)
-            .setMax(15);
+                    .setMin(0)
+                    .setMax(15);
+
+    /**
+     * Selects the midi channel
+     */
+    public static final Key<String> MIDIINSTRUMENT =
+            new Key<>("midiInstrument", "");
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/de/neemann/digital/core/io/MIDI.java b/src/main/java/de/neemann/digital/core/io/MIDI.java
index 2defa0ea2..96d232887 100644
--- a/src/main/java/de/neemann/digital/core/io/MIDI.java
+++ b/src/main/java/de/neemann/digital/core/io/MIDI.java
@@ -10,12 +10,8 @@ import de.neemann.digital.core.element.Element;
 import de.neemann.digital.core.element.ElementAttributes;
 import de.neemann.digital.core.element.ElementTypeDescription;
 import de.neemann.digital.core.element.Keys;
-import de.neemann.digital.lang.Lang;
 
 import javax.sound.midi.MidiChannel;
-import javax.sound.midi.MidiSystem;
-import javax.sound.midi.MidiUnavailableException;
-import javax.sound.midi.Synthesizer;
 
 import static de.neemann.digital.core.element.PinInfo.input;
 
@@ -33,10 +29,12 @@ public class MIDI extends Node implements Element {
             input("V"),
             input("OnOff"),
             input("C").setClock())
+            .addAttribute(Keys.ROTATE)
             .addAttribute(Keys.MIDICHANNEL)
-            .addAttribute(Keys.ROTATE);
+            .addAttribute(Keys.MIDIINSTRUMENT);
 
     private final int chanNum;
+    private final String instrument;
     private ObservableValue note;
     private ObservableValue volume;
     private ObservableValue clock;
@@ -51,6 +49,7 @@ public class MIDI extends Node implements Element {
      */
     public MIDI(ElementAttributes attributes) {
         chanNum = attributes.get(Keys.MIDICHANNEL);
+        instrument = attributes.get(Keys.MIDIINSTRUMENT);
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -86,27 +85,7 @@ public class MIDI extends Node implements Element {
 
     @Override
     public void init(Model model) throws NodeException {
-        try {
-            Synthesizer synth = MidiSystem.getSynthesizer();
-            synth.open();
-            MidiChannel[] channels = synth.getChannels();
-            if (chanNum >= channels.length) {
-                synth.close();
-                throw new NodeException(Lang.get("err_midiChannel_N_NotAvailable", chanNum));
-            }
-
-            channel = channels[chanNum];
-            if (channel == null) {
-                synth.close();
-                throw new NodeException(Lang.get("err_midiChannel_N_NotAvailable", chanNum));
-            }
-
-            model.addObserver(event -> {
-                if (event.equals(ModelEvent.STOPPED))
-                    synth.close();
-            }, ModelEvent.STOPPED);
-        } catch (MidiUnavailableException e) {
-            throw new NodeException(Lang.get("err_midiSystemNotAvailable"), e);
-        }
+        MIDIHelper.getInstance().open(model);
+        channel = MIDIHelper.getInstance().getChannel(chanNum, instrument);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/de/neemann/digital/core/io/MIDIHelper.java b/src/main/java/de/neemann/digital/core/io/MIDIHelper.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d7a392de1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/de/neemann/digital/core/io/MIDIHelper.java
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+package de.neemann.digital.core.io;
+
+import de.neemann.digital.core.Model;
+import de.neemann.digital.core.ModelEvent;
+import de.neemann.digital.core.NodeException;
+import de.neemann.digital.lang.Lang;
+
+import javax.sound.midi.*;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.TreeMap;
+
+/**
+ * Helper for MIDI functions
+ */
+public final class MIDIHelper {
+    private static MIDIHelper ourInstance = new MIDIHelper();
+
+    /**
+     * @return the MIDIHelper
+     */
+    public static MIDIHelper getInstance() {
+        return ourInstance;
+    }
+
+    private Synthesizer synthesizer;
+    private boolean isOpen;
+    private TreeMap<String, Instrument> instrumentMap;
+
+    private MIDIHelper() {
+    }
+
+    private Synthesizer getSynthesizer() throws NodeException {
+        if (synthesizer == null) {
+            try {
+                synthesizer = MidiSystem.getSynthesizer();
+                if (synthesizer == null)
+                    throw new NodeException(Lang.get("err_midiSystemNotAvailable"));
+            } catch (MidiUnavailableException e) {
+                throw new NodeException(Lang.get("err_midiSystemNotAvailable"), e);
+            }
+        }
+        return synthesizer;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Opens the synthesizer
+     *
+     * @param model the mode used. If the model is closed also the synthesizer is closed
+     * @throws NodeException NodeException
+     */
+    public void open(Model model) throws NodeException {
+        if (!isOpen) {
+            try {
+                getSynthesizer().open();
+            } catch (MidiUnavailableException e) {
+                throw new NodeException(Lang.get("err_midiSystemNotAvailable"), e);
+            }
+            isOpen = true;
+
+            model.addObserver(event -> {
+                if (event.equals(ModelEvent.STOPPED))
+                    close();
+            }, ModelEvent.STOPPED);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void close() {
+        if (!isOpen) {
+            synthesizer.close();
+            synthesizer = null;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Creates the channel to use
+     *
+     * @param num        the channel number
+     * @param instrument the instrument to use
+     * @return the channel
+     * @throws NodeException NodeException
+     */
+    public MidiChannel getChannel(int num, String instrument) throws NodeException {
+        Instrument instr = null;
+        if (!instrument.isEmpty()) {
+            instr = getInstrument(instrument);
+
+            if (!getSynthesizer().loadInstrument(instr))
+                throw new NodeException(Lang.get("err_midiInstrument_N_NotAvailable", instrument));
+        }
+
+        MidiChannel[] channels = getSynthesizer().getChannels();
+        if (num >= channels.length) {
+            close();
+            throw new NodeException(Lang.get("err_midiChannel_N_NotAvailable", num));
+        }
+
+        MidiChannel channel = channels[num];
+        if (channel == null) {
+            close();
+            throw new NodeException(Lang.get("err_midiChannel_N_NotAvailable", num));
+        }
+
+        if (instr != null) {
+            final Patch patch = instr.getPatch();
+            channel.programChange(patch.getBank(), patch.getProgram());
+        }
+
+        return channel;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return the list of available instruments
+     * @throws NodeException NodeException
+     */
+    public String[] getInstruments() throws NodeException {
+        return new ArrayList<>(getInstumentMap().keySet()).toArray(new String[0]);
+    }
+
+    private Instrument getInstrument(String instrument) throws NodeException {
+        Instrument i = getInstumentMap().get(instrument);
+        if (i == null)
+            throw new NodeException(Lang.get("err_midiInstrument_N_NotAvailable", instrument));
+        return i;
+    }
+
+    private TreeMap<String, Instrument> getInstumentMap() throws NodeException {
+        if (instrumentMap == null) {
+            instrumentMap = new TreeMap<>();
+            for (Instrument i : getSynthesizer().getAvailableInstruments()) {
+                instrumentMap.put(i.getName(), i);
+            }
+        }
+        return instrumentMap;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/de/neemann/digital/gui/components/EditorFactory.java b/src/main/java/de/neemann/digital/gui/components/EditorFactory.java
index 36f3a56bd..838352f6c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/de/neemann/digital/gui/components/EditorFactory.java
+++ b/src/main/java/de/neemann/digital/gui/components/EditorFactory.java
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import de.neemann.digital.core.element.*;
 import de.neemann.digital.core.extern.Application;
 import de.neemann.digital.core.extern.PortDefinition;
 import de.neemann.digital.core.io.InValue;
+import de.neemann.digital.core.io.MIDIHelper;
 import de.neemann.digital.core.memory.DataField;
 import de.neemann.digital.core.memory.ROM;
 import de.neemann.digital.core.memory.importer.Importer;
@@ -94,6 +95,9 @@ public final class EditorFactory {
      * @return the editor
      */
     public <T> Editor<T> create(Key<T> key, T value) {
+        if (key == Keys.MIDIINSTRUMENT)
+            return (Editor<T>) new MidiInstrumentEditor(value.toString());
+
         Class<? extends Editor> fac = map.get(key.getValueClass());
         if (fac == null)
             throw new RuntimeException("no editor found for " + key.getValueClass().getSimpleName());
@@ -1037,4 +1041,34 @@ public final class EditorFactory {
             romManager = value;
         }
     }
+
+    private static final class MidiInstrumentEditor extends LabelEditor<String> {
+        private JComboBox<String> comb;
+
+        private MidiInstrumentEditor(String instrument) {
+            String[] instruments;
+            try {
+                instruments = MIDIHelper.getInstance().getInstruments();
+            } catch (NodeException e) {
+                instruments = new String[]{"MIDI not available"};
+            }
+            comb = new JComboBox<>(instruments);
+            comb.setSelectedItem(instrument);
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        protected JComponent getComponent(ElementAttributes elementAttributes) {
+            return comb;
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public String getValue() {
+            return (String) comb.getSelectedItem();
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public void setValue(String value) {
+            comb.setSelectedItem(value);
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/resources/lang/lang_de.xml b/src/main/resources/lang/lang_de.xml
index edaba7482..ac1aeca50 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/lang/lang_de.xml
+++ b/src/main/resources/lang/lang_de.xml
@@ -1002,6 +1002,7 @@ Sind evtl. die Namen der Variablen nicht eindeutig?</string>
         unterschiedliche Bezeichnungen haben. Die lexikalische Ordnung legt dann die Reihenfolge der RAMs fest.</string>
     <string name="err_midiSystemNotAvailable">Das MIDI-System ist nicht verfügbar.</string>
     <string name="err_midiChannel_N_NotAvailable">Der MIDI-Kanal {0} ist nicht verfügbar.</string>
+    <string name="err_midiInstrument_N_NotAvailable">Das MIDI-Instrument {0} ist nicht verfügbar.</string>
 
     <string name="key_AddrBits">Adress-Bits</string><!-- ROM, RAMDualPort, RAMSinglePort, RAMSinglePortSel, EEPROM -->
     <string name="key_AddrBits_tt">Anzahl der Adress-Bits, die verwendet werden.</string>
@@ -1302,6 +1303,8 @@ Sind evtl. die Namen der Variablen nicht eindeutig?</string>
 
     <string name="key_midiChannel">MIDI-Kanal</string>
     <string name="key_midiChannel_tt">Legt den MIDI-Kanal fest.</string>
+    <string name="key_midiInstrument">MIDI-Instrument</string>
+    <string name="key_midiInstrument_tt">Das MIDI-Instrument, welches verwendet werden soll.</string>
 
     <string name="mod_insertWire">Leitung eingefügt.</string>
     <string name="mod_insertCopied">Aus Zwischenablage eingefügt.</string>
diff --git a/src/main/resources/lang/lang_en.xml b/src/main/resources/lang/lang_en.xml
index 50e489782..5c7997b24 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/lang/lang_en.xml
+++ b/src/main/resources/lang/lang_en.xml
@@ -995,6 +995,7 @@
         different names. The lexical order then determines the order of the RAMs.</string>
     <string name="err_midiSystemNotAvailable">The MIDI-System is not available.</string>
     <string name="err_midiChannel_N_NotAvailable">The MIDI channel {0} is not available.</string>
+    <string name="err_midiInstrument_N_NotAvailable">The MIDI instrument {0} is not available.</string>
 
     <string name="key_AddrBits">Address Bits</string><!-- ROM, RAMDualPort, RAMSinglePort, RAMSinglePortSel, EEPROM -->
     <string name="key_AddrBits_tt">Number of address bits used.</string>
@@ -1290,6 +1291,8 @@
 
     <string name="key_midiChannel">MIDI channel</string>
     <string name="key_midiChannel_tt">Selects the MIDI channel to use.</string>
+    <string name="key_midiInstrument">MIDI instrument</string>
+    <string name="key_midiInstrument_tt">The MIDI instrument to use.</string>
 
     <string name="mod_insertWire">Inserted wire.</string>
     <string name="mod_insertCopied">Insert from clipboard.</string>